Space heater catches wall on fire in Norwalk residence

A space heater being used to thaw pipes caught a wall on fire at a Reed Street residence, causing about $5,000 in damages but no injuries, Norwalk firefighter Ben Luxon said.

The Norwalk Fire Department responded to the call a little after 5:17 p.m. with four trucks and used about 300 gallons of water to extinguish the fire, Luxon said. They fire was controlled at 6:30 and firefighters departed at 6:34.

According to a report, firefighters arrived to find contents on fire in the kitchen/bathroom area. The fire was extinguished in single-digit temperatures using a 1 3/4 inch attack line.

Luxon said chances are more pipes will freeze as the winter progresses. He urged people to be careful while using space heaters to thaw frozen pipes.